Regular exercise ‘can help alleviate asthma symptoms’

Taking 30 minutes of exercise a day can help asthma patients to gain better control of their symptoms, according to a new study.

Led by Concordia University in Montreal, the research analysed the exercise habits of 643 participants who had been diagnosed with asthma. It was shown that those who engaged in optimal levels of physical activity on a regular basis were nearly two-and-a-half times more likely to have good control of their symptoms than those who did none.

Often, people with asthma are discouraged from exercising due to a fear of triggering shortness of breath and attacks, but the report indicated that with proper preparation and cooldown time, this need not be the case.

Of the sample group of 643 individuals, 245 reported doing no physical activity, whereas only 100 said they engaged in the optimal 30 minutes a day.

Simon Bacon, the study's lead author and a professor in the Department of Exercise Science at Concordia, said: "We need to keep in mind that doing something is better than nothing, and doing more is better than less. Even the smallest amount of activity is beneficial."